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Crusher’s defamation action

  • May 1st, 2012

A month ago I predicted a win for the Hon Judith Collins in her law-suit over the claim that she or her office had leaked ACC information.

Catching up on several week's papers I thought of how sick Messrs Mallard & Co must have felt on seeing Phil Kitchin's latest report on the ACC/Pullar affair.  Their source might seem a less reliable witness for pleading justification in light of at least one misleading ACC internal report.  Phil is such a good journalist I read his report as a fair indication of ACC scrum twisting. Where there is some there is usually more.

Trevor Mallard could be getting advice right now to settle this, even if it involves a complete and abject apology and withdrawal. I hope the Minister makes them pay all her costs, plus some, to cover the risk she took, plus some more against RNZ for its low-grade coverage of the Mallard allegations without balancing comment.

Comments

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iPredict has her on only about 20% to get damages.  Could she win the case and not be awarded damages, or do you think that there's some money to be made on that contract?

[Steve] Some famous defamation cases have ended with ‘victory’ to the plaintiff and nominal damages. Bit iPredict may be right. There is a long way to go yet, and the risks of litigation mean that I rarely recommend it to clients, even when they feel they have very strong cases.
On the other hand, I would be even more strong in advice to defendants in the position of the media and Little and Mallard – get out of it while you can, early. There is little worse than facing a plaintiff who is prepared to litigate on principle, irrespective of cost.

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Heads should roll at ACC and those responsible should be charged with making a false complaint to the Police.

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  • AngryTory
  • May 1st, 2012
  • 8:26 pm

Crusher's not going to settle now.
It's going to court: the losers will be out of parliament and out of a career.

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  • Michael Mckee
  • May 2nd, 2012
  • 4:19 pm

I wish.
Watching Trevor mallard pontificating on TV this week spoilt my tea 🙂

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